The hoax and reality of chemical imbalance

Before, depression was considered as a biological illness, often times being referred to as a disease. But recent studies initiated by the pharmaceutical industry have indicated that depression is actually caused by chemical imbalance in the brain.

Studies presented through advertisements and promotional items seem to indicate that the lack or improper balance of neurotransmitters in the brain causes incorrect functioning of the whole system resulting to a variety of mental illnesses like clinical depression and schizophrenia.

However, the term "chemical imbalance" is being used by pharmaceutical companies very loosely. By simply saying that a chemical imbalance in the brain causes mental illnesses is wrong.

The changes or imbalance in the levels of neurotransmitters and other neural level phenomena are part of the reasons why clinical depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other illnesses occur. Recent and much comprehensive studies have shown that mental illnesses including depression are caused by a complex combination of factors such as heredity, physiology, psychological factors, early life experiences, medical conditions, diet, alcohol and drugs, and various environmental factors including living with a depressed person.

There is also no accurate way of measuring chemical imbalance. Chemical imbalance testing is the same misnomer that was created by the pharmaceutical companies. There is no way of testing whether the various neurotransmitters in the brain are imbalanced or not, not in a living person at least. Measurements and tests can be administered but it involves taking out the brain and examining it closely.

The concept of "chemical imbalance" started in the 60's and later on became politicized in 1970s after it gained backing from Congress. The same concept has been passed onto consumers of depression drugs that claim to put back the chemical balance in the brain.

Because of misinformation like this, people who suffer depressive behaviors go blindly and have themselves subjected to a variety of tests that claim to measure the chemical imbalance in the brain. Therefore, claiming that a patient is suffering from a chemical imbalance is totally baseless. All these tests do is prescribe various medications that build dangerous levels of toxins in the bodies of people diagnosed with depression.

It is said that over 9 million adults experience major depression every year. Depression doesn't pick an age, gender, ethnicity or race. Depression manifests even in children, adolescents and adults.

Likewise all ethnic, racial and socioeconomic groups suffer from depression. If left untreated, depression can last from months to even years. Some cases may even lead to suicides. Various medications and psychotherapies have been found to be very effective treatments for depression. Treatment is based on assessing the true conditions of patients and through testing for chemical imbalances in the brain.

We need to get our facts right. This lie has been going around for so long that most us already admit them as truth. We cannot continue to believe advertisements and campaigns started by drug companies and supported by the government agencies like the FDA.

Depression is a disorder that needs to be addressed the right way. Taking medications needlessly is not the answer to treat depression. We need first to be educated on the facts of depression and the so-called chemical imbalance in the brain.

We need to realize that there are no scientific studies or evidence that proves that a chemical imbalance in the brain causes the symptoms associated to depression, ADHD, or other mental illnesses. We must help repair the damage done by years of propaganda and campaign. Only around few years ago, some respected experts in the fields have admitted that the concept of chemical imbalance is indeed a big hoax.